Chapter 18: Worst Bar Night in Human History
1242 Words
Arden did not have intentions of visiting a bar.
Arden’s intentions were to head home, take a shower, cry quietly into his pillow, and pretend like his life is normal.
Sadly, Arden's plans always had a 100% failure rate.
It all began when Kaito stated very nonchalantly, “I need to stop somewhere.”
This was it.
So was the threat.
"Arden should have known better."
---
THE BAR that definitely was not a BAR
“This,” Arden said slowly, staring at the neon sign flickering ominously above the door, “is a bar.”
“Yes,” Kaito
“This,” Arden repeated, pointing accusingly, “is NOT home."
“Correct"
Arden clutched his backpack as if it were a lifeline. “I am a MINOR,”
Kaito looked at him. "You're eighteen."
“BARELY. I AM EMOTIONALLY"
Kaito ignored him and went inside.
Arden hesitated.
Then followed.
Because that was life now.
It was dark, pricey, and most definitely not a bar where one would find sticky floors or a karaoke machine in full swing.
It was that kind of bar where businessily suited men spoke in hushed tones, where glasses clinked softly, and where every patron looked as if he or she had committed at least one felony.
The room fell silent.
All heads turned.
Arden whispered, “WHY DID THEY ALL STOP BREATHING.”
Kaito placed a light hand on his back. “Stay close.”
“YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME!”
They went further into the bar.
Arden has noticed something terrifying.
There were no normal people.
No college students. No drunk uncles. No sad businessmen.
Just mafia.
Every table was set as if it was a scene straight out of a crime documentary.
A man nodded to Kaito. Another man bowed. A voice whispered, “Young Master.”
Arden tripped
Immediately.
He stumbled over a chair, bumped into a table, and launched a bowl of peanuts like a missile.
Silence.
Arden froze.
”I can explain.”
No one stirred.
Kaito let out a sigh.
The tension dissipated in a split second
The onlookers returned to their seats.
Someone laughed. Another murmured, “That’s him?”
Arden hissed, “THAT'S HIM WHO?"
Kaito led him to a secluded spot.
“This is a meeting,” Kaito continued calmly. “You’ll sit quietly.”
Arden nodded forcefully. “I AM THE DEFINITION OF QUIET.”
That was a lie.
---
Arden sat at the far end of the table.
He is surrounded by men talking about land, deliveries, alliances, and things Arden definitely shouldn’t be hearing about.
“.the northern docks—” “.we can’t trust them—” “blood will be spilled—"
Arden raised a hand.
Everyone stopped.
Kaito closed his eyes.
“Yes?” Kaito carefully said
Arden pointed. “…Is this about fish.”
Silence.
A man coughed.
Another stared.
Kaito pinched the bridge of his nose. "No," he said
“Oh,” Arden said. “Okay.
The session continued.
Arden pulled closer to Kaito and whispered, “WHY DO THEY KEEP SAYING ‘ELIMINATE.’”
“Don’t ask,” Kaito whispered back
“I AM ASKING"
“Stop"
Arden nodded seriously.
Then came into view the bartender.
The bartender smiled at him.
Arden smiled back.
Well, that was mistake number one.
---
The barman slid Arden a drink.
"rden blinked. “…What is this?"
“Beer,” stated the bartender.
Arden looked at Kaito.
Kaito was engaged in a conversation
Arden looked back at the beer.
Arden breathed, “…Free?:
The bartender nodded.
Error number two.
Arden took a sip.
"He made a face," he said
“This tastes like regret,” he said
Then took another sip.
And then another.
By the time Kaito turned back—
Arden was on his third beer.
Kaito froze. “Why are you drinking?”
Arden grinned. “I AM SOCIALIZING-"
“You don't drink.”
“I am expanding my horizons.”
“That’s your fourth.”
“NUMBERS ARE A SOCIAL CONSTRUCT.”
The men at table looked on with growing anxiety.
One leaned over. ”…Is he okay.”
Kaito looked at Arden.
Arden waved hello, writing "HI SIR I LIKE YOUR FACE IT LOOKS EXPENSIVE."
Kaito stood up abruptly. “That's—"
Too late.
Arden stood up.
Which was totally a bad idea.
“I would like to make a speech,” Arden declared.
“Sit down.”
Arden ignored him.
“I WOULD LIKE TO SAY,” Arden shouted, swaying, “THAT I AM VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU FOR… uh…”
He squinted
“…CR"
A man choked on a drink.
Another said, “Is this man insulting us?”
“YOU, SIR, LOOK LIKE YOU OWN A KNIFE,” Arden dramatically pointed.
The man nodded slowly. “…I do.”
“GOOD FOR YOU.”
Kaito took Arden’s arm. “You're-"
"I AM HONEST"
“You're embarrassing me.”
"I AM BEING MYSELF."
“That’s the problem,”
---
Arden was leaning very heavily on Kaito
“Did you know that?” Arden whispered loudly, “I MET YOU WHEN I ALMOST DIED.”
Kaito's body locked
“And you scared me, too,” Arden continued, laying a hand on Kaito’s chest. “Like, very handsome scary"
All movement stopped.
All mafia men stared.
A whisper was heard: “Did he just—"
“Stop talking,” Kaito's jaw clen
“I ALSO THINK,” Arden said, pointing to the table, “THAT MAFIA IS VERY STRESSFUL AND YOU SHOULD ALL TRY YOGA.”
Silence.
Then—
Laughter
Laughter.
The crowd went wild.
One man wiped away tears. “He is crazy.”
Another laughed. “He's brave.”
Kaito gaped at Arden. “Avert your eyes, Arden, and repeat after me. You'd just told a crime"
“DOWNWARD-FACING DOG,”
Then—
"Arden's legs gave out."
Kaito noticed him immediately.
Arden blinked up at him.
"You smell expensive," he said.
Kaito took a sharp breath. “We need to go"
---
As Kaito lifted Arden,
A second man stood up. “You’re taking him?”
Kaito has very cold eyes. “Yes"
“He knows too much.”
"I KNOW NOTHING," Arden weakly waved.
Kaito’s voice went low and dangerous. “Under my protection.”
The room grew tense.
Then the man laughed. “Relax. Anyone dumb enough to say that much isn’t a threat,” he said.
Arden gasped.
Kaito carried him out anyway.
---
Arden held on to Kaito’s coat.
‘I THINK I RUINED YOUR MEETING.’
“Yes"
“I THINK THEY HATE ME.”
“No"
“I THINK I LOVE–”
Kaito halted his walk. “Finish that sentence carefully.”
Arden squinted. “Milk tea"
Kaito kept moving.
---
By the time they reached the car, Arden’s head was leaning on Kaito’s shoulder.
“Kai,” he muttered
“…Yes"
“Promise… you won’t let them hurt me.”
“I won’t.” His grip had tightened.
Arden smiled drowsily.
Then passed out entirely.
Kaito looked down at him.
Sigh.
“…You’re impossible"
He carried Arden into the car.
At the back of all this, the bar was filled with a fresh set of
"The kid drank four beers."
He insulted the syndicate.
"And he walked out alive."
One thing was sure.
Lee Arden Santos had just achieved legendary status.
Home.
- Writer
